Blog
Free and Helpful Resources to Reduce Medication Errors
It is important for patients to have accurate and reputable drug information resources at their disposal. Drug companies try to educate patients through several direct means such as television, print ads, drug packaging, and online. However, because these resources are produced by the drug companies themselves, there may be biases attached to the information. Medication errors may follow if a patient does not know potential side effects and drug interactions. Unbiased medical information is important for consumers to make informed decisions regarding their health care and medications.
Here are 4 free reputable drug information resources to educate yourself:
This site is affiliated with the American Academy of Pediatrics and is a great resource for parents. This site includes information on vaccines and illnesses typically associated with children.
This site is affiliated with the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. It is a one-stop-shop for medication safety information and allows for personalized medication updates. These updates include drug safety ratings, drug interactions, recalls, and side effects.
This is a government site from the National Institutes of Health. Consumers can search for valuable information on various topics including Alzheimer’s disease, depression, menopause, shingles, and cardiovascular health.
This is affiliated with the Acetaminophen Awareness Coalition, which provides education to consumers regarding the safe use of products containing acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is contained in over 600 over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications. The website encourages consumers to always read the OTC label before taking any product. There are multiple resources for the safe use of acetaminophen in children including a dosage chart. Consumers and pharmacists can also order free acetaminophen educational toolkits.